Thomas E. Deiter Sr.

Thomas E. Deiter, Sr. {Tom} 53 entered into the loving arms of Jesus on Sunday, March 9, 2014 with his wife Mary at his side after a courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis {ALS also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.} Tom has finally won the battle and has entered into Heaven greeted by Jesus and all his loved ones who have gone before him.

He was born on April 30, 1960 in Rockford, IL. to Daryl and Eileen {Jantzen} Deiter. He graduated from Harlem High School class of 1979. He lived most of his life right in the Loves Park/Machesney Park area. He was an avid Nascar Fan and a true “professional driver”. He drove go-carts as a little kid and raced for several years at Rockford Speedway. In recent years he loved to go on short trips with Mary in his RV. He drove a ready-mix concrete truck for Meyer Material for 19 years. After the Loves Park plant closed, he drove for Goodwill Industries until he became to sick to work.

Tom was the most gentle, loving soul that ever lived. Tom was a jack of all trades who could fix anything. He would do anything to help others and spent his entire life doing and helping people. In the end, many people were here doing for and helping him.

On June 14th, 1996, he became her Mr. Wonderful when he was united in marriage to the former Mary Harmon in Rockford IL. Their journey together was orchestrated by God and there never was a better union. They spent many happy years together.

Tom was the very best husband, father, grandpa {TATA} that ever was.

Tom is survived by his wife, Mary Deiter of Machesney Park, son TJ Deiter {Thomas Jr.} {Angie Coad} of Loves Park, daughter, Megan Sanders {Jason Gaudry} of Machesney Park, grandchildren Kailey Sanders and Kaden Gaudry of Machesney Park, brother Dennis Deiter {Laura Anderson} of Loves Park, sister, Debbie Bowlby of Texas, and his father Daryl Deiter of Texas. He is also survived by his mother in law, Judy Faber of Machesney Park, father in law, David C. Harmon Sr. {Margaret} of Florida, sister in law Theresa {Greg} Platt of Missouri, brothers in law, Glen Harmon, Mark {Lea} Harmon of Rockton, David {Kathy} C. Harmon Jr. of Rockford, and Dan {Laurie} Harmon of Florida. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and many great and true friends.

He was predeceased by his mother, Eileen R Deiter, his maternal and paternal grandparents, many aunts, uncles, cousins and good friends, and by his Nascar hero, Dale Earnhart Sr.

The family would like to thank the organizations of Heartland Hospice, Swedish American Home Health Care, Swedish American Hospital, The Chicago Chapter of the ALS Association, the ALS team at the University of Chicago Hospital and Clinics for their care and support of Tom and Mary during the whole duration of this animal of ALS.

We would also like to thank Rock River Valley AMBUCS for building us our wheel chair ramp free of charge which Tom used and appreciated.

The family would also like to thank Melanie and Brian Steder for all your love and support over all the years, you guys are the best neighbors ever. We would like to thank Dave and Laurie Moore for your love and friendship and mostly for inviting and encouraging us to start going to Heartland Community Church, where Tom found his real true union with GOD. We would like to thank Matt Kitchen and the compassion team from Heartland Community Church for your love, support and friendships. We would like to thank Vic Annacaukas for the awesome wheel chair van without which we would have been trapped and helpless. We would also like to thank the countless people that we have forgotten to mention for all the big and little things.

Mary would like to personally thank Dennis Deiter and TJ Deiter for all their support and help with Tom throughout his illness, everything from snow removal to moving Tom in the lift when Mary went to work. All the big and little things that his brother and his son did just proved their undying love for him and you know he felt the same about you guys. Mary would also like to thank Megan Sanders for her help and her presence especially near the end and for blessing our lives with her beautiful children who we have loved with all our hearts.

Mary would also like to thank her co-workers and management at her job in the Heart Hospital @ Swedish American Progressive Care Unit for the love, support, and understanding throughout Tom’s illness. The PCU staff are the BEST.

And last but not least we want to thank Judy Faber who tirelessly did everything she could to help Tom when Mary went to work. Without her help, we never could have made it, besides being a constant moral and emotional supporter through our entire ordeal; she forgave her own physical discomfort many days to be there for Tom.

Please make donations in memory of Tom to the Chicago Chapter of the ALS Association or Rock River Valley AMBUCS.

We take refuge in the fact that Tom will be laid to rest next to his mother.

Funeral service 10 a.m. Saturday, March 15, 2014 at Heartland Community Church, 1280 S. Alpine Rd, Rockford. Pastor Matt Kitchen officiating. Visitation 6-8p.m. Friday, March 14, 2014 at Heartland. Interment in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Online condolences may be submitted at www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com